The arrest of 55-year-old Charanjit Kaur, also known as Channo Bai, and her son Balwinder Singh for heroin smuggling on July 6 has once again highlighted how deep the drug trade has spread into family life in Punjab’s border areas.
The mother-son duo was caught with 1.8 kg of heroin and two mobile phones. But this wasn’t their first run-in with the law — Channo Bai’s younger son is already in jail for a similar offence, and her husband, also accused of being involved in drug smuggling, has passed away. Now, only Balwinder’s wife remains at home in Nihale Wala village, close to the India-Pakistan border.
This is not an isolated case. In the same village, almost every member of Lal Singh’s family — his wife, sons, daughter, and even nephew — have been booked under drug laws, with 38 cases filed against them.
In nearby villages, similar incidents are happening. In Chandiwala village, two brothers were caught with nearly 3 kg of heroin. In Zira, two young men were arrested with 1.5 kg of heroin and ₹12.9 lakh in cash.
According to Ferozepur SSP Bhupinder Singh, families in these border villages often turn to drug smuggling because they have no jobs or income. Many of them act as couriers — unaware of where the drugs come from or where they’re going. Often, they realise the risk only when they get arrested, and by then, their entire family is affected.
A worrying trend is the growing use of women as drug carriers. Punjab State Women Commission Chairperson Raj Lali Gill said many jailed women told her they were forced into smuggling without knowing the consequences.
A retired police officer added that life in these villages is very slow and poor. There are few job opportunities and very little land to earn a living from. Once one family member joins the drug trade, others often follow — either for money, to pay legal costs, or out of fear.
Many families have suffered deeply. Judge Singh from Guruharsahai lost both his sons to drug overdoses. Charan Kaur from Basti Shekhan lost her husband and son to drug addiction.
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